Variable flow separator



Aug. 24, 1965 J, SHADA VARIABLE FLOW SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 17, 1961 INVENTOR. JOSEPH J. 676404 BY M W 4 Tram/5K5 United States Patent 3,201,925 VARIABLE FLOW SEPARATOR Joseph J. Sharla, Memphis, Tenn, assignor to International Basic Economy Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 132,187 5 Claims. (Cl. 55-391) This invention relates to separators for removing impurities from gases, and more particularly to a variable flow separator having effective separation characteristics regardless of the gaseous volumetric flow rate therethrough.

Centrifugal separators for compressed, flowing gaseous materials, e.g., air, to remove impurities such as water and dust are ordinarily manufactured in an assorted array of capacities to accommodate different gaseous flow rates. This is ordinarily necessary because the flow velocity through a centrifugal separator must be maintained above a certain minimum to cause the impurities to be thrown out of the flowing gas, and because the gas velocity through the separator must be maintained below a certain maximum to prevent undue turbulence tending to carry the impurities clear through the separator. In many instances, however, the volumetric fiow rate through an air line and a separator will vary widely in response to a varying demand, for example, to a motor. The conventional separators are therefore effective in such an application only over a narrow range of the widely varying flow rate. When the flow rate rises above or falls below this effective range, poor separation results.

Further, even if the volumetric flow rate through 'a line is relatively constant, the expense of manufacturing and maintaining a complete assorted line of separators for individual lines involving many different flow rates is relatively costly.

It is an object of this invention to provide a relatively simple, gaseous separator which elfectively cleans gas of impurities even. where the volumetric flow rate varies .Widely. The separator further abrogates the usual necessity of an array of variable capacity separators for lines involving ditlerent flow rates since the one sepaautomatically responsive to varying flow rates to effect 0 the proper velocity change. It includes a minimum of moving parts and it operates very dependably.

It is capable of being manufactured by adding a few relatively inexpensive parts to a conventional separator. The regulator includes valving means movable against a biasing force according to the dynamic pressure of the gas entering, and includes a variable porting means governed by the valving means to regulate the gas velocity into the centrifugal separator. The valve means is not susceptible to misalignment, and thus assures dependable operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

' FIG. 1 is a front elevational sectional view of the novel separator; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane IIII of 'FIG. 1.

Basically, this invention comprises a variable flow gaseous separator including regulator means responsive to the dynamic pressure of the flowing gas-impurity mix- 3,201,925 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 ture to govern the velocity of this mixture as it flows to the centrifugal separator means. The regulator comprises a ported tubular element having an opening communicating with the housing inlet means, and a valve means reciprocal in said element. The porting means in the tubular element has a variable flow cross section controlled by the valve means. These ports are arranged in the wall of this element and oriented generally tangentially to the inner periphery thereof to impart a generally circular flow pattern to the gas for centrifugal separation of impurities. The valving means is biased toward the inlet means to cause'the variable porting to increase only with increased gaseous flow rate.

Referring to FIG. 1, the separator 10 includes housing 12, regulator means 14, and bafile means 16.

Housing 12 includes inlet means 20 for the impuritycarrying gases. This inlet 20 may be formed with a suitable pipe coupling 22 secured in opening 24 at the upper end of the elongated, generally cylindrical housing. Outlet 26 is formed by a second pipe coupling 28 secured in opening 30 at the opposite or lower end of the elongated housing 12. Extending upwardly from the outlet 26 is a suitable conduit 32 through which the gas fiows to the outlet, and around the outside of which the separated impurities such as water collect. The water may then pass out drain opening 34 adjacent the bottom of the housing. One or more conventional retaining baffles 36 having openings 38 therein for downward passage of water droplets is secured tightly around this conduit 32.

Threadably connected into the lower portion of inlet coupling 22 is a regulator means 14 including a tubular and preferably cylindrical element 40, and a valving member 42 reciprocable in the element. A plurality of ports 44 are arranged around the periphery and through the wall of cylindrical element to allow gaseous flow from the inlet 20 into the main portion 46 of the housing. Each of these ports is oriented generally tangentially with respect to the inner peripheral surface of element 40 (FIG. 2) to initiate the circular action which causes separation of heavier-th'an-air impurities by centrifugal force. Plug 50 is mounted in the lower end of element 40, e.g. by a press fit. Upper end 52 of element 40 is open to communicate with the inlet means 20. Attached to the bottom of plug 50 is a mounting rod 56 threadably connected to or press fit into plug 50 to support a 'plurality (here two) of conventional flow baffles 60 and 62. Baffie 60 is retained against plug 50 by shoulderf64. Baffle 62 isretained on the rod by a pair of suitable nuts 66 and 68. Extending upwardly from plug 50 (here mounted in the butt of rod 56) is a guide pin 70. The disc-type, valving member 42 is guided on this pin during reciprocation to prevent misalignment, and maintain frictional contact to a minimum. A biasing means such as coil spring 76 extends between plug 50 and valve 42 to bias the latter toward the inlet means 20. A stop, such as cotter key 78 extending through guide pin 70, determines the upward limit of valve 42. Preferably, the topmost ports in the wall of element 40 remain open with the valve in this limit position to accommodate very small gaseous flow rates.

A conventional vent plug 80 may be provided in the wall of housing 12.

Operation The variable flow separtordescribed may be utilized for insertion into any of a great number of gas lines having different flow rates. The device is positioned generally as shown in FIG. 1 with the gas lines connecting at inlet 20 and outlet 26. Drain outlet 34 may be attached to a suitable drain line (not shown). Flowing gas is then allowed to enter through inlet means 20 where it passes down into the cylindrical element 4 0, and

radially outwardly through the ports 44; v

If the volumetric flow rate is' relatively small, the gas r will flow out only thevtoprnost ports. The gase'rnerging into the centrifugal separator means 'is given a whirling 'then through f conduit 32 to'the outlet; The moisture,

V to decrease flow through said ports; and said valve means being responsive "to. gaseou'stflow through said inlet to be etc., is thrown against the walls 0t housing '12 during the I whirling movement. and passes down the'wall and past '7 reciprocally shiftablewithin said element by the flowing a gas against the force of said biasing means to allow flow of varyingincreasing amounts through said ports.

2. A centrifugal; separator for removing impurities .from a gaseous carrier comprisingzfan elongated'g'eneral- ,ly cylindricalhousing havinga generallycylindrical inner wall; inlet means adjacent one end of said housing for the impurity-laden gas; gaseous outlet means adjacent the other end' of said housing; impurity disposal means i inlsaidrhousingybalfies in said housing spaced alongsaid felohgated housing between said inlet means and outlet to create more cross sectionalporting area. Spring 76 is. calibrated so thatthe velocity of vthe gases emerging from porting means 44 'will remain within an optimum range for most eifective separation; that is," as the volume Q 'tric flow rate increases through the "inlet mearis'20,valve 142 willv move downwardly at a predetermined ratio to jaction is amenabletohigh speed, inexpensive rrianufae-iv turing techniques. This relatively simple addition ,further fgreatly enhances the adaptability and efficiency of the sep- 'arator. ,T a lvariousrnodifica 'ons within the spirit of this invention will be-apparent tothose" inthei'art; Thus; this invention is not to belimited by the-formwf the'invention illus trated, but only, by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures 'to those defined h i I ll 7H:

' f j creased nuniberQ of said port's atiat substantially constant velocitfy il uritiesifroni gaseous means and spaced from said inner-housing wall to form annular passage'ineans therearound' adjacentsaid housing wall for'gu'iding' the gaseous flow in acentrifugal flow pattern to. separate impurities from ,the gaseous'carrier; a'ndgflow regulating -means extending into said. housing from said inlet means upstream of said bafile means; said regulating means comprising a hollow cylindrical ported element and a valving member reciprocable in said element along-the axis ofv'said' element; said element having 'an opentend cormnunicatingwith said inlet means, with the opposite end being closed;'said element having a plurali ty of outlet porting means arranged generally tangentially through the wallfthereof and axially spaced therein to. causejgas flow in a circular pattern in said housing past saidjbafiles and thereby cause. a centrifugal flow pattern between said bafiles and saidhousing wall; spring means biasing said valving member toward said inlet to decrease flow j through i said porting] means; and said valving memberbeing responsive to gaseousillow through said inlet 7 means andsaidOpe'n end toqbe variably movable against carrier, comprising? an elongated housing; inlet means I in one 'end. 'of said'housing for entrance of an impurityj laden gas;, c entrifu'gal flow separator baflles-inf the central portion of said housing spacedlltherealong", and farming *annular passagesltherearound forjthe'gas'es,caus ngfioW r t, n, w i-1 ing said impurities I from; said" gaseous carrier; outlet stream of.said bafllesitolexit theigaseous carrier; and gas around said baflles and adjacentsaid-housing} means" in said housing; for' the gaseous, "carrierfdowm flow]: regulation means positionedfadjace'nt said inlet means upstreani of said baflies; said regulatiommeans 7 comprisingatiibularelement having an inlet communi- 'cating withf said inlet. means; and; a. reciprocable yalve ferally tangentially tosaid element to cause circularifiow from saidjinlet means to said separatonjbatfies; saidiregumeans" in said 'elementjshiftable"towardandtaway ifrom f 'sa'id'inletin said ele'ment; thei 'wall-portions of said elea ment including -a plurality ,ofioutlet ports arranged gent w i' tslife' et b .8. a t $1 saidmletsaid spring bias twith th'e dynamic pressureof an increased "flow rate tot'per'mitanincreased flow rate through an in g3, The separator inlclaimfzfwherein saidvalving mem- .'ber' 'isra disc" that "reciprocates" on a centrallguide means.

i 4. The separator. in,c1a im,3-wherein said guide means bergg.

5 The pseparatorrinfj'claim 2 whereina portion of said I bafiles aife securedto said cylindriealelenient Q 'include s a stop means forflsaidsprin'g biased valving mem- R tee-i sctat 5 a i 2 UNITEDSTATESPAITENTS- '--1-,5482 ss i 8/25 Sm1th ;*ss 41s 1,973,258 9/34 Iensen s5- 42o 2,942,691 6/60; n n 55-391 RQREiGN. P T NT J 110,385 1/24 Netherlands. l

;8/28 ';SWitz'erland.

. R y B. THORNTONJri'rhqr y Ema-art 

1. A SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING IMPURITIES FROM A GASEOUS CARRIER, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED HUSING; INLET MEANS IN ONE END OF SAID HOUSING FOR ENTRANCE OF AN IMPURITYLADEN GAS; CENTRIFUGAL FLOW SEPARATOR BAFFLES IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID HOUSING SPACED THEREALONG. AND FORMING ANNULAR PASSAGES THEREAROUND FOR THE GASES, CAUSING FLOW AROUND SAID BAFFLES AND ADJACENT SAID HOUSING FOR SEPARATING SAID IMPURITIES FROM SAID GASEOUS CARRIER DOWNMEANS IN SAID HOUSING FOR THE GASEOUS CARRIER DOWNSTREAM OF SAID BAFFLES TO XIT THE GASEOUS CARRIER; AND GAS FLOW REGULATION MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID INLET MEANS UPSTREAM OF SAID BAFFLES; SAID REGULATION MEANS COMPRISING A TUBULAR ELEMENT HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET MEANS AND A RECIPROCABLE VALVE MEANS IN SAID ELEMENT SHIFTABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID INLET IN SAID ELEMENT; THE WALL PORTIONS OF SAID ELEMENT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF OUTLET PORTS ARRANGED GENERALLY TANGENTIALLY TO SAID ELEMENT TO CAUSE CIRCULAR FLOW 